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In a significant legal development, Ohio has been blocked from enforcing a law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to use social media platforms. This decision came after a federal judge deemed the law unconstitutional.
The legislation, known as the Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act, was approved by state lawmakers in July 2023, with plans for it to take effect on January 15, 2024. It aimed to mandate that minors under 16 obtain parental consent before accessing any social media services.
Immediately after the legislation was passed, NetChoice, an organization that represents major tech companies, contested the law. They successfully obtained a temporary restraining order, halting the law’s implementation while the legal challenges unfolded.
The court case remained active until a recent ruling on April 16, 2025, which effectively resolved the matter, rendering the law unenforceable.
Court Ruling Against Ohio’s Social Media Law
As reported by NetChoice, U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that the law infringed upon the First Amendment, which protects free speech. This ruling secures a permanent block on the law.
Judge Marbley emphasized, “This case resides at the intersection of two unquestionable rights: the rights of children to ‘a significant measure of’ freedom of speech and expression under the First Amendment, and the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their children free from unnecessary governmental intrusion.”
Chris Marchese, NetChoice’s director of litigation, remarked that the ruling underscores the importance of protecting both the rights of online platforms to share information and the rights of individuals to engage with that information. He noted that legislative efforts must honor these constitutional protections.
This ruling comes during a period of increased scrutiny over social media platforms regarding the safety of children. Currently, apps like TikTok are facing lawsuits from multiple states claiming their features, such as algorithm-driven content, pose risks to young users’ mental health.
In a related development, Discord has also been targeted in a lawsuit by the New Jersey Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin, alleging the platform has not effectively prevented children under 13 from gaining access to it.
Source
www.dexerto.com